Camden police officers line up their work boots in January 2011, in protest of the layoffs of 300 police officers and firefighters. About 100 were rehired.

Written by

George Mast
| Courier-Post Staff

Mayor Dana Redd took a major step Thursday toward dismantling Camden's police department in favor of a county-run force by filing paperwork with the state to lay off all the city's officers.

The layoff of the department's approximately 270 officers is a necessary step in the planned conversion to a county department that is expected to take over policing the crime-plagued city several months into the new year.

The plan filed with the state Civil Service Commission Thursday must be approved before it can be put into effect. Layoffs would occur on or about Feb. 24 and no later than the close of ...